India farmers at standoff over poultry

An unofficial ban by Jammu and Kashmir on culled chicken from Punjab,
over bird flu fears, has resulted in Punjabi farmers stopping the supply of
poultry feed to the northern Indian state.

According to Rajinder Mittal, spokesman for All India Poultry Farmers Welfare
Association, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister did not impose the ban on
Punjab chicken but his subordinates have enforced it. And because the unofficial
ban was not been lifted some Punjab farmers have imposed a symbolic ban on
poultry feed to stress their dissatisfaction.

The poultry feed ban
has left roughly two million chickens in Jammu and Kashmir without feed, forcing
some breeders to close-down.

However, Punjabi Poultry Farmers
Association says a slightest positive move by Jammu and Kashmir will have them
flooding their markets with bird feed.